Container with breakable end closure



Jan. 9, 1968 J. A. GEIGER CONTAINER WITH BREAKABLE END CLOSURE FiledAug. 24, 1964 INVENTOR United States Patent 3,362,570 CONTAINER WITHBREAKABLE END CLOSURE Joseph A. Geiger, Woifurt, Vorarlberg, Austria(3030 Platten Drive, Fairfax, Va. 22030) Filed Aug. 24, 1964, Ser. No.391,521 3 Claims. (Cl. 220-48) The present invention relates tocontainers with easyopening features and more particularly to containerswith metallic end closures prepared for easy breaking and removal. Theinvention has particular merit when embodied in hermetically sealed cansfor solids and liquids which are subject to internal pressures.

A great deal of effort has been expended in recent years to developcontainers with new and better opening features. The presentdevelopmental trend in the rigid container industry is to eliminatepreviously required special opening tools through the provision ofscoring lines or other appropriate local weakening in the containerwall, so that a section of the wall can be torn off with the fingers byan average person. Of the various designs now available, all of themhave either one or more of the following disadvantages: (a) a relativelyhard pull is required to initiate tearing, resulting in a danger ofinjury to the pulling fingers; (b) the torn container section withmultiple cutting edges represents a hazard in handling and disposal; (c)carelessly discarded tear sections, besides representing a nuisance,create a hazard to inadvertent persons, particularly children; (d)inadequate resistance under internal container pressure; (e) inadequatesafety against tampering in places of display; (f) inadequacy for massproduction due to high cost.

For mostcontainers' it is necessary to withstand considerable strain,not only during the processes of handling, shipping, storage, etc., butparticularly as a result of internal pressures. The latter may betemporary as in inpackage pasteurization, in-package cooking, orpermanent, as a result of carbonation or other gas pressures. Theprovision of an easy-opening feature in such a container, therefore,calls for the inherently difficult combination of easy breakability ofthe container wall with structural strength and leak-tightness.

Easy-opening features on containers generally offer two advantages: (a)the reduction of time required to open a container and (b) theelimination of the need for a specialized bulky opener tool. The secondadvantage is becoming increasingly important in view of the risingconsumption of rigid-container-packaged goods in places where no canopener is at hand. However, while no can opener may be readilyavailable, in an overwhelming majority of situations, some simple toolwould be available, such as, a piece of cutlery, a screwdriver, a fiatpiece of metal, a door key, etc. With such a tool put to use under themechanical advantage of leverage, by taking advantage of its length andrigidity, the average person would be able to deform or break evenhighly resistant metallic closures,

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide aninexpensive, pressure-resistant container with an easy-breakable endclosure, requiring no special opening tools.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container with anend closure of the type mentioned above with a section of the endclosure breakable and removable, and with the removed section presentinga minimum of handling hazards.

A further object of this invention is to provide a container with an endclosure of the type mentioned above, where a variety of readilyavailable rigid objects can be used to create a mechanical advantage andbreak the closure open.

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A still further object of this invention is to provide a container withan end closure of the type mentioned above, which, while havingeasy-opening features, may be opened with a conventional can opener atthe discretion of the user.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as it is better understood from the following descriptionwhich, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, disclosesseveral preferred ern bodiments thereof.

In accordance with the above objects, and as a feature of thisinvention, there is provided a rigid container with a metallic endclosure of which a section is removable after breaking the wall at aline of weakening under a force applied to the removable section with asimple independent rigid object under mechanical advantage.

Accordingly also, as another feature of this invention, provision ismade for a rigid container with a metallic end closure as outlinedabove, where the end closure is shaped in such a way as to receive inforcible engagement a simple independent rigid object, thereby creatinga mechanical advantage for forces applied to this rigid object.

Accordingly, also, as still a further feature of this invention,provision is made for a rigid container with a metallic end closure asoutlined above, particularly for use with containers having aclosure-securing seam of the conventional double-seam type, and whichcan be opened by means of a conventional can opener or by means of thebuilt-in easy-opening features.

The above and other features of the invention, including various noveldetails of construction and combination of parts will now be morespecifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particularcontainers embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration onlyand not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features ofthis invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the invention.

In the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container in the process of beingopened, and embodying the invention;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are fragmentary sectional views taken across the topseam of the container of FIG. 1, and illustrating two successive stepsin the opening procedure;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, illustrating a modifiedembodiment of the invention.

Referring to the figures enumerated above, FIGURE 1 illustrates aparticular embodiment of the invention represented by a containercomprising a tubular body 20 with a top end closure 21 secured to thebody 20 by means of a continuous double seam 22. Body 20 may be of anyconventional construction and is here shown in a cylindricalconfiguration with a side seam 23 extending from end to end of thecontainer, representing the typical construction of tin plate cans.Obviously, body 20 may be fabricated by various methods such as impactextrusion, deep drawing, continuous welding, etc., or it may be made ofa variety of materials, aluminum or tin plate among the metals, plastic,fibre and fibre-foil composites among the non-metals, for example.

It will be appreciated that the cylindrical shape of the container,while being a preferred configuration, does not represent an inherentlimitation of the invention. Other shapes of annular contour may bechosen to embody the same invention. The Word annular, as used in thiscontext, should consequently not only imply circular but also suchcircle-related contours as oval, obrotund, oblong or square with roundedcorners, and similar shapes con1- patible with the geometry of thetubular body 20.

A removable closure section 24 is illustrated in the process of beingbroken away from the remaining closure rim 25. A rigid object 26,generally referred to as lever hereinafter, and representing forexample, the handle of a fork or spoon, is shown engaged in groove 27 ofclosure section 24 and, while being pivoted along arrow 28, seversclosure section 24 along a line of weakening 29 until the opening 30* iscompletely exposed.

A more detailed illustration of the essential features of the sameembodiment is given in FIGURES 2 and 3, representing fragmentarysectional views of the container taken across end seam 23. End closure21 comprises an annular recess 31 at a close distance from chuck wall32. Wall portions 33 and 34, forming the sides of recess 31, areapproximately parallel and continuous in annular extension. Annulardiscontinuity of recess 31 would clearly not alter the relevant featuresof the embodiment here disclosed. Near the lower end of chuck wall 32 isimpressed a line of weakening 29 which defines the interior contour ofclosure section 24. A short annular discontinuity of line of weakening29 would provide a bending hinge holding the broken closure section 24in an attached and pivoting relationship to the container, but thisfeature is optional. Recess 31 is so shaped that the lever 26 can beengaged between wall portions 33 and 34 and when pivoted and pushed inthe direction of arrow 35 makes forcible contact with the upper part ofchuck wall 32 at point 36 of its exterior side and with wall portion 36of closure section 24 on its extreme interior edge 37. A force appliedin this direction will result in a mechanical advantage and will exert aleverage pushing and lifting force to wall portion 33 at 37, severingthe closure 21 at the adjacent line of weakening 29.

Opening of the closure 21 being thus initiated, it could be continued byadvancing lever 26 along recess 31, repeating the pivoting action justdescribed, until the wall of closure 21 is severed along the entirelength of line of weakening 29. This is a time-consuming process and canbe advantageously replaced by the method illustrated in FIGURE 3. Here,the same container section is shown after initiation of severance online of weakening 29. Recess 31 is so shaped that, under oppositepivotal movement, lever 26 makes forcible contact with the upper part ofwall portion 33 at point 38 of its interior side and with wall portion34 at its extreme exterior edge 39. This second movement results againin a mechanical advantage, permitting forcible lifting of closuresection 24 by a force applied at lever 26 in the direction of arrow 40.In view of the fact that continuation of severance along a line ofweakening, after being started, requires only a fraction of the effortrequired for initiation, this second move ment permits easy and completeremoval of closure section 24 in one single pull, as illustrated inFIGURE 1.

The material most suitable for the end closure of this embodiment isaluminum alloy, which can readily be scored to provide the line ofweakening and also breaks easily at said line. For applications wherethe container has to withstand higher than normal internal pressures, orwhere the use of aluminum is undesirable for other reasons, conventionaltin plate may be used advantageously. In this case the scoring toolshave to be of higher precision and endurance.

FIGURE 4 represents an embodiment essentially equivalent to the oneillustrated in FIG. 2. Container body 90, end closure 91 and double seam92 have the same configuration as is commonly given to tin plate cans.End closure 91, in addition to line of weakening 93 is provided with ahook 94, permanently attached to the exterior shoulder 95 of closurebead 96 by a spot Weld 97. Hook 94 has a recess 98, similar to recess 31of FIG. 2, with an upper face 99 and a lower face 100 equivalent to wallportions 33 and 34 of FIGS. 2 and 3. Lever 101 is pivoted to and fro inthe same manner as suggested in the disclosure of the FIG. 1 embodiment,thereby breaking line of weakening 93 and removing closure section 1&2from the container.

From inspection of the various figures, it will become obvious that allthe embodiments shown, by featuring the conventional double seam andchuck wall construction, offer as alternate opening possibility the useof a conventional can opener, thereby enhancing the usefulness of theinvention. The line of weakening of the embodiments being located justadjacent their respective chuck wall, an additional advantage isprovided, inasmuch as the cutting line of a conventional can openerapproximately coincides with the line of weakening, thereby reducing theresistance to cutting. A conventional double seam, as referred to above,is one with an overall thickness of inch or less and an exterior widthof approximately A; inch.

In the foregoing the invention has been described with reference tospecific illustrative embodiments. It will be understood, however, thatcertain variations and modifications, as well as the substitution ofequivalent elements for those shown for illustration, may be madewithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as definedin the appended claims. The foregoing specification and drawings areaccordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in arestrictive sense.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a body and at least one sheet metal endclosure secured to it by a permanent seam, a weakening line in the wallof said end closure defining the contour of a predetermined removableclosure section from a non-removable closure section and where (a) thenon-removable closure section comprises as a stiffening means asubstantially vertical wall portion with its bottom edge located at theweakening line, its upper edge being adapted to serve as a fulcrum foran independent rigid member,

(b) the removable closure section comprises as a part of its structurean elongated groove having substantially parallel side walls locatedopposite said vertical wall portion with the outer wall of the grooveextending upwardly toward said weakening line in substantially parallelalignment with said vertical wall portion and laterally offset onlysufficiently for the weakening line,

(c) said groove is adapted to receive one end portion of saidindependent rigid member for forcible engagement with the groove sidewall which is more distant from the weakening line When the free end ofthe member is pivoted over said fulcrum, the points of forcibleengagement with said fulcrum and said side wall being located oppositeone another at approximately equal distance from the weakening line,

(d) said groove is also adapted to receive the end portion of said rigidmember for forcible engage- 55 ment with both of its side walls when thefree end of the member is pivoted in a direction away from said fulcrumedge,

said container thus providing an end closure which is adapted for beingquickly opened by means of a simple rigid member which, upon beingoperated as described under (c) above, produces leverage-augmented localforces at the underlying weakening line with consequent local rupturingof the Wall at the weakening line, and

which, upon then being operated as described under (d) above, causes thepartially severed removable wall section to be further severed along theweakening line for the creation of an opening.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1, where (f) the permanent seamsecuring the end closure to the 0 body is a so-called double seam, suchas is commonly used for seaming metal containers, comprising a verticalchuck wall as part of the seam structure and adapted for the use with aconventional can opener,

(g) the weakening line is located adjacent to the bottom edge of saidchuck wall, coinciding approximately with the line where a conventionalcan opener would cut the end closure wall.

3. A container comprising a body and at least one sheet metal endclosure secured to it by a permanent seam, a weakening line in the wallof said end closure defining the contour of a predetermined removableclosure section from a non-removable closure section and where (a) thenon-removable closure section comprises as a stiffening means asubstantially vertical wall portion with its bottom edge located at theweakening line, its upper edge being adapted to serve as a fulcrum foran independent rigid member,

(b) the removable closure section comprises as a part of its structure aU-shaped member located opposite said vertical wall portion and havingone leg of the U- profile permanently attached to the removable closuresection and so oriented that its free end extends toward the weakeningline,

(-c) said U-shaped member is adapted to receive an end portion of saidindependent rigid member for forcible engagement with the leg which ismore distant from the weakening line when the free end of the member ispivoted over said fulcrum,

(d) said U-shaped member is also adapted to receive the end portion ofsaid rigid member for forcible engagement with both of its legs when thefree end of the member is pivoted away from said fulcrum edge,

said container thus providing an end closure which is adapted for beingquickly opened by means of a simple rigid member which, upon beingoperated as described under (0) above, produces leverage-augmented localforces at the underlying weakening line with consequent local rupturingof the wall at the weakening line, and which, upon then being operatedas described under (d) above, causes the partially severed removablewall section to be further severed along the weakening line for thecreation of an opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,851,617 3/1932 Buschman 220272,017,460 10/1935 Hothersall 22048 2,029,329 2/ 1936 Ljungstrom et al22048 2,119,533 6/1938 Fink 220--48 2,176,898 10/1939 Fried 220272,210,225 8/ 1940 Walensky 220-48 2,312,358 3/1943 Punte 22027 2,383,2748/ 1945 Punte 22048 2,405,667 8/1946 Ottesen 22048 2,601,937 7/1952Ottesen 22048 FOREIGN PATENTS 472,481 3/ 1951 Canada. 392,590 5/1933Great Britain.

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

JAMES R. GARRETT, Examiner.

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A BODY AND AT LEAST ONE SHEET METAL ENDCLOSURE SECURED TO IT BY A PERMANENT SEAM, A WEAKENING LINE IN THE WALLOF SAID END CLOSURE DEFINING THE CONTOUR OF A PREDETERMINED REMOVABLECLOSURE SECTION FROM A NON-REMOVABLE CLOSURE SECTION AND WHERE (A) THENON-REMOVABLE CLOSURE SECTION COMPRISES AS A STIFFENING MEANS ASUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL WALL PORTION WITH ITS BOTTOM EDGE LOCATED AT THEWEAKENING LINE, ITS UPPER EDGE BEING ADAPTED TO SERVE AS A FULCRUM FORAN INDEPENDENT RIGID MEMBER, (B) THE REMOVABLE CLOSURE SECTION COMPRISESAS A PART OF ITS STRUCTURE AN ELONGATED GROOVE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLYPARALLEL SIDE WALLS LOCATED OPPOSITE SAID VERTICAL WALL PORTION WITH THEOUTER WALL OF THE GROOVE EXTENDING UPWARDLY TOWARD SAID WEAKENING LINEIN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID VERTICAL WALL PORTION ANDLATERALLY OFFSET ONLY SUFFICIENT FOR THE WEAKENING LINE, (C) SAID GROOVEIS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ONE END PORTION OF SAID INDEPENDENT RIGID MEMBERFOR FORCIBLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GROOVE SIDE WALL WHICH IS MORE DISTANTFROM THE WEAKENING LINE WHEN THE FREE END OF THE MEMBER IS PIVOTED OVERSAID FULCRUM, THE POINTS OF FORCIBLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FULCRUM ANDSAID SIDE WALL BEING LOCATED OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER AT APPROXIMATELY EQUALDISTANCE FROM THE WEAKENING LINE, (D) SAID GROOVE IS ALSO ADAPTED TORECEIVE THE END PORTION OF SAID RIGID MEMBER FOR FORCIBLE ENGAGEMENTWITH BOTH OF ITS SIDE WALLS WHEN THE FREE END OF THE MEMBER IS PIVOTEDIN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID FULCRUM EDGE, SAID CONTAINER THUSPROVIDING AN END CLOSURE WHICH IS ADAPTED FOR BEING QUICKLY OPENED BYMEANS OF A SIMPLE RIGID MEMBER WHICH, UPON BEING OPERATED AS DESCRIBEDUNDER (C) ABOVE, PRODUCES LEVERAGE-AUGMENTED LOCAL FORCES AT THEUNDERLYING WEAKENING LINE WITH CONSEQUENT LOCAL RUPTURING OF THE WALL ATTHE WEAKENING LINE, AND WHICH UPON THEN BEING OPERATED AS DESCRIBEDUNDER (D) ABOVE, CAUSES THE PARTIALLY SERVED REMOVABLE WALL SECTION TOBE FURTHER SERVERED ALONG THE WEAKENING LINE FOR THE CREATION OF ANOPENING.